Reflex camera



May 31 1938 R. E.- CAMPBELL 2,119,200

REFLEX CAMERA Filed April 15, '193e 3 sheets-sheet 1 .-INVENTOR Rf. CAMPBELL May 31,1938. R. E.. cAMPELL 2,119,200

` REFLEX CAMERA Filed April l5, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 RLBAMPBHL May 31, 1938. R- E CAMPBELL 2,119,200

REFLEX CAMERA Filed April l5, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 f5 mvfNToR 6. R. E. CAMPBELL Patented May 31, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application April 15, 1936, Serial No. 74,454 In Great Britain May 2, 1935 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in photographic cameras of the type having a rotating cylindrical shutter with one or more equally spaced exposure apertures therein and within which cylinder the supply reel, winding on reel and exposure gate together with the mechanism for holding the film in the exposure gate during exposure are situated.

According to the present invention the cylindrical shutter and the winding on spool are intermittently operated by mutilated pinions rotating in unison the teeth on which are so spaced and arranged as to operate the parts in the desired sequence and give one exposure at each revolution of the pinions.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section on line I--I Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line 2-2 Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional'plan of shutter on line 3-3 Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line I--I Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevation of driving mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a plan of same.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of same with parts in section. f

Fig. 8 is a detail view of winding on spool.

The invention will be described with reference to a reflex camera having a view nder hood A1, a ground glass screen a3, a magnifying lens a, a pivoted reflex mirror al and lens a2 of ordinary construction.

In carrying out the invention the lm suppl spool D and winding on spool D2 are mounted inside a rotating cylindrical shutter formed of two concentric cylinders C1, C2 with three exp f sure apertures which will be described herea ter.

'I'he supply spool D is mounted on a fixed spindle n in the casing Dl of the apparatus and the winding on spool D2 is mounted on a spindle d carried by an arm d pivotally mounted loosely on a spindle A extending through the casing D1 and on which the rotating shutter C1, C2" is mounted and by which it-is operated as will be hereinafter described.

A circular aperture is formed in the side of the' casing D1 adjacent to the rotating shutter C1, C2 through which the latter can be removed to give access to the spindles n and dD for the purpose of inserting the spools D and`D2 thereon andremoving .them therefrom. The circularaperture is normally closed by a cover plate D3 screwed into a ring D4 afhxed to the casing D1 around the circular aperture.

When it is desired to insert a new fllm into the camera. the leading end of the film is withdrawn from the supply spool D and passed through a tangential slot ds (see Fig. 8) in the spool D2 and secured by a screw d8 the end of which projects into the hollow centre of the spool D2. The cover plate D3 having been removed the two spools D and D2 are placed on their respective spindles n and d9 the iilrn between them being threaded laterally through a gate b1 the construction and operation of which will be described later. The spindle d9 is formed with an open endedv longitudinal slot dI to receive the inner end of the screw da whereby when the spindle d is rotated the winding on spool D2 will rotate with it.

The rotation of the shutters C1, C2 the opera.- tion of the illm winding on spool D2 and the raising of the reflex mirror a1 from its normal view nding position shown in Fig. 1 and in dotted lines in Fig. 5 to its raised position shown in full lines in Fig. 5 out of the path of the light from the lens a2 to the shutter must all be synchronized and driven from a common source. The drive for the voperation of these parts is derived through gearing from a spring motor E of any usual construction and wound up by a knob M mounted on a shaft m extending through the case, a pawl and ratchet or similar device (not shown) being provided to prevent the backward rotation of the shaft m when the motor is liberated to operate the different parts of the camera. Any suitable brake device may be employed for regulating the speed of the spring motor E, that shown in the drawings comprising an open helical spring e2 mounted so as to-be capable of rotation and also to be compressed by a regulating screw e3 to vary the distance between the coils of the spring. The coils oi.' the spring e2 are engaged by helical teeth e1 on the drum lof the motor E so that by varying the distance between the coils of the spring e2 greater or less friction will be applied to the' teeth e1 and the speed of the motor E varied accordingly.

The drurn of the motor E also carries a toothed wheel e which drives a pinion f loosely mounted on a stud ,f1 screwed into the casing Dl and the pinion f is formed in one with three mutilated pinions F, F1 and F2 which operate the winding on spool D2, the shutter C1, C2 and the reflex mirror a1 respectively.

The mutilated pinion F which operates the winding on spool D2 is formed with three teeth f2 on its periphery, the remainder of the periphery being a plain cylindrical surface. The

teeth j of the pinion F gear with pinion teeth y formed on the end of the arm d loosely mounted on the shaft A.

A pinion d1 is loosely mounted on the spindle d1 will travel over the rack/i12. The ratio between 15 the pitch circle of the' teeth f2 on the mutilated pinion F and the pitch circle of the teeth a on the end of the arm d' is such that for one engagement of the teeth f2 with the teeth a (i. e. each revolution of the pinion F) the 4arm d is rotated through about 90. Since the spool D1 is mounted on the end of the arm d the movement of the latter which is away from the gate b1 and which is open during this movement a length of iilm is drawn from the spool D tlrough the gate, the parts being so dimensioned and arranged that such length of film is equal to the length of= film exposed at each 'exposure. To prevent the spool D2 Vrotating in a direction to unwind the nlm therefrom during this operation a pawl k1 is mounted on the arm d and en'- gages the teeth of a ratchet wheel d5 aillxed on the spindle (1.

One end of a coil spring d4 is attached to the spindle d9 and the other end to the pinion d1 so that as the latter moves up the rack d2 this spring `will be tightened up. When the teeth f1! have moved out of engagement with the teeth g the arm dis free and the spring d4 will cause a relative movement between the wheel d1 and the spindle d? and such relative movement achieves the double purpose of rotating the wheel d1 in a direction to cause it to travel down the rack to its initial position and to rotate the spindle d* to wind the length of film which has been drawn through the gate on to the spool'D. During which movements the pawl k1rides on the teeth of the ratchet wheel d5.

The pinion F1 which operates the rotating shutter C1, C2 is formed with iive teeth f3 which gear. with a pinion H affixed on the shutter spindle A the remainder of the periphery of the pinion F1 being a plain cylinder. .The pinion H is formed with three series of normal teeth h each series being separated by a locking tooth h1 and at leach revolution of the pinion F1 the teeth P therein engage one series of the teeth h and move the pinion H one-third of a revolution and as the rotary shutter C1, C2 is formed with three exposure apertures c1 one aperture will be brought across theexposure position at each revolution o1' the pinion F1. The teeth h are so positioned relative to the exposure apertures that when an aperture c1 is in the exposure position correspond- 55 ing series oi' teeth h of the pinion H are about halt-way through their movement and when the teeth f3 move out oi' engagement with the teeth h the aperture c has passed the exposure position. When the-teeth P become disengaged from the teeth h the succeeding lock tooth h1 engages the Plain portion of the periphery of the pinion F1 to prevent rotation of the pinion H until the locking tooth h1isagainmetbytheteethf1 whenitis rotatedtobringthenext series ofteetlihintoensagement with the teeth l whereupon the shutter is again operated. The shutter makes one complete revolution every three exposures.

The periphery oi the pinion F1 is recessed at f4 at each end of the series of teeth f3 thereon to allow the locking teeth h1 to move into and out oi 5 engagement with the periphery. X

The pinion F2 operating the reflex mirror a1, is out away for substantially half of its periphery and is formed with three teeth f5 on a portion of the remainder, in proximity to the leading edge 1o (considered in the direction of rotation) of the uncut away portion of the periphery. At each revolution ofthe pinion Fthe teeth f5 gear with teeth k on a pinion K afiixed on a sleeve k* mounted on a stud kI5 which sleeve has a second pinion 15 K3 aillxed to it. The pinion K1I drives a pinion K1 keyed on to a spindle kc to which the reilex mirror a1 is aillxed. A locking tooth k1 is arranged on the pinion K to come into engagement with the plain cylindrical portion oi the pinion F 20 as soon as the teeth f5 of the latter have moved away fromthe normal teeth k which occurs immediately the mirror a1 has been raised into the horizontal position, shown in iull lines in Fig. 5, from between the lens a2 and the gate b1. The 25 engagement of the locking tooth k1 with the plain surface of the pinion lrz retains the mirror a1 in the raised position until the pinion F2 has moved to the position where the locking tooth k1 will no longer. be in engagement with the periphery. 30 When this occurs the pinionK is freed and the mirror a1 will fall by gravity into its original position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5 and the pinion K will be rotated by the movement of the mirror a1 into its original position so that its 35 teeth hcan be engaged again by the teeth l of the pinion F2.

A pawl k2 is pivoted to the pinion K1 engaging teeth on a wheel/ K1 which is rotated one tooth ch time the mirror a1 is raised. The wheel IKl 40 is marked with numerals visible in turn through /a window in the casing D1 to indicate the number of movements of the wheel K3 and since the latter is moved once for, each revolution of the pinion Fc which rotates in unison with the pinion 45 F1 and the latter operates the shutter C1, C1 once for each revolution the number visible through the window will indicate the number of exposures which have been made.

It will be understood that the relative positions 50 of the teeth f1 on the pinion F, the teeth f1 on the pinion F1 and the teeth l5 on the pinion 11.*l and alto the relative position of the cut away portion of the pinion Fa must be such as to sive the desired sequence of operations each time the 55 pinion f is rotated by the spring drum or motor E. 'I'he sequence of operations is as follows, iirst the reilex mirror a1 is raised from the dotted line position to the full line position shown in Fig. 5, then one or the three exposure aper- 00 tures c1 in the shutter C1, CI is moved pastthe gate b1 and iinally the arm d is rotated topull the exposed length of nlm through the gate and bring an unexposed length into position therein for 'the next exposure, the length of lm pulled 65 through the gate being wound up on t to the spool D' during the return oi' the arm d as has been previously described. In Figs. 5 and 6 the parts are shown in the positions they occupy immediately after an exposure has taken piace and 70 before the exposed film is pulled thmuglr the gate. The teeth l* on the pinion I" have travelled more than one-quarter of a revolution after rotating the pinion K to raise the mirror a1 .theplnionbeingretainedin'itsraisedposition 75 by the engagement of the locking tooth k1 with the plain surface of the pinion F1 to lock the pinion H until the teeth f1 again engage the locking tooth and the teeth f2 on the pinion F are about to engage the teeth g on the end of the arm d to rotate the latter to pull the exposed length of film through the gate.

l Since as hereinbefore described the pinions F, F1, F2 make one revolution for each e sure it is necessary to provide means whereby their rotation will be stopped after they have made substantially one revolution. Such means comprise two pins or stops j and f" projecting'from the face of the pinion F1 where it is not covered by the pinion F1x and in a position a Short distance behind the teeth f1. A catch L pivotaliy mounted on the casing D1 and adapted to occupy the position shown in Fig. 2 or in dotted lines in Fig. 7 or a position at substantially 90 thereto or to be heid in the position shown in full lines in Fig. '7 midway between the two extreme inclined positions. When the catch L is in one or other of the extreme positions it lies in the path of one or other of the pins j, f1 thereby preventing rotation of the pinion F, F1, Fz and operation of the shutter and other parts of the mechanism. Both the extreme positions 1 and 2 of the catch L are indicated in dotted lines on Fig. 5 and one or other of the pins j, f1 will engage the catch to hold the pinions in a position with the teeth f5 on -the pinion F2 a short distance away from the pinion K since when the teeth f5 are in this position the teeth on all the pinions F, F1, and F2 are out of engagement with the gears which they drive, the shutter C1, C2 is in its inoperative position, the mirror'a1 is lowered and the spool D2 carried by the arm d is in its normal position moreover, as soon as the catch L is moved from the pin f6 to release the mechanism the teeth f5 on the pinion F11 will come into operation iirst to raise the mirror a1 and so commence the cycle of operations.

To release the mechanism `for the purpose 0f making a single exposure the catch L is turned over from one extreme position to the other so that if it were originally in position 1 engaged by the pin I it is moved into position 2. During this movement the second pin f1 will have moved past the position 2 and the catch will now lie behind the second pin f1 and be engaged thereby when the p/ ns F, F1, and .F11 have completed substantially ne revolution. The mechanism is thus stopped until the catch L is again moved into position 1 when substantially another revolution will be made.

For continuous operation the catch L is moved into the central position shown in full lines in Fig. '7 and clear of both pins ,f11 and f' when the camera will continue to make successive EXPO- sures until the catch is moved into one or other of its extreme positions.

The shutter as previously stated is formed with three exposure apertures c1 variable in size and is formed of two concentric cylinders arranged to rotate outside a stationary cylinder B having an aperture b behind which is arranged the gate b1. The cylinder B is open at both ends as shown in Fig. 3 and may be iitted with a ball race c at either one or both ends. The cylinder C1 is amxed directly on the spindle A and the cylinder C2 on a spindle c* passing through the spindle A which is hollow the two cylinders being a sumciently tight nt one within the other so that when the shaft A is rotated by the gear wheel H the two cylinders will rotate in unison. 'I'he exposure apertures c1 on the cylinder C coincide with those in the cylinder C1 and to vary the,

eifective sine of each aperture it is only necessary to rotate the cylinder C2 relative to the cylinder C1. For this purpose the spindle c4 projects through the outer end of the spindle A and is provided with a knob A2 by which it can be rotated in relation thereto. Thus when the spindle A and consequently the cylinder C1 is prevented from rotation by the catch L being in engagement with one or other of the pins f or F' rotation of the spindle c* by the knob A will rotate the cylinder C2 and alter the effective size ot the exposure apertures.

'Longitudinal movement of the cylinders C1 and C2 is prevented by the plate C1 which engages the end of the spindle c4 and is held in position by the cover plate D3. The plate ('111 is formed with a conical portion c3 which fits into a corresponding recess in the cover plate D1 to permit the plate Cf1 to rotate with the shaft c4 whilst the plate D3 remains stationary.

As previously stated the filmis drawn through a gate b1 behind the aperture in the stationary cylinder B. The illm is held in this gate during the exposure of the illm by a pressure plate bz mounted eccentricaliy on the main spindle A whereby the pressure plate will intermittently hold the film flat in the gate during each pressure.

The operation of the diiferent parts of the camera has been described in the foregoing description but the following brief summary will enable the operations necessary to make an ex.\ posure to be more readily understood:-

If necessary the exposure apertures c1 in the shutter are adjusted by the knob A2 and the spring motor E is wound up, rotation of the driving pinions F, F1, and F1 being prevented by the engagement ci.' one or other of the pins 1 or fi with the catch L. The catch L is then moved to release the pinions F, F1, and Fn and the latter commence to rotate.

The teeth f5 on the pinion 11"z comes into operation rst to raise the mirror a1 and the locking tooth k1 rides on the plain portion of the periphery of the pinion to retain the mirror in the raised position. The teeth f1 on the pinion F1 then come into gear with the teeth h on the pinion H to operate the shutter and give an exposure; after which further movement of the shutter is prevented by the locking tooth h1 on the pinion H engaging the plain surface of the pinion F1. When the movement of the shutter is completed the teeth f2 on the pinion F engage the teeth g operating the arm d carrying the winding on spool D2 and the pressure plate b1 having been released from the film, the exposedV length of iilm is drawn from the gate and on the return movement of the armd wound on to the spool D.r When the pinions F, F1, IFn have substantially completed aI revolution the catch L is again engaged by the other of the two pins f' or f' and the cycle of operations is at an end only to be recommenced on a further actuation of the catch L.

If it is desired that a series of exposures should be made without stopping the rotation of the pinions F, F1, Fn it is onlynecessary to hold the catch L in the position midway between the two extreme positions when .the cycle of operations will be continued without intermission until the catch is again moved into one of the extreme positions.l

end periodically engages whereby the arm moves away from the exposure aperture .of the shutter after an exposure has been made to draw away from the aperture the exposed length of lm and replace it by an unexposedl length and mechanism for winding up the lengthv of lm so drawn away and for returning the take up spool to its original position.

2. A camera of the type referred to compris'- ing a spring motor, mutilated pinions rotated in unison driven by the spring motor, teeth on a portion of the periphery of each mutilated pinion, agear wheel periodically engaged by the teeth on one pinion to intermittently rotate the shutter to give one exposure for each revolution of the mutilated pinion, a swinging army upon one end of which the take up spool is mounted, a second mutilated pinion with which the other end periodically engages whereby the arm moves away from the exposure aperture 'of the shutter after an exposure has been made to draw away from the aperture the exposed length 'of 111m and re. place it by anunexposed length, mechanism for winding up the length of illm so drawn away and for returning the take up spool to its original position and a catch to stop the rotation of the mutilated pinions after one revolution.

3. A camera of the type .referred to comprising a spring motor, mutilated pinions rotated in unison driven by the spring motor, teeth on a portion of the periphery oi.' each mutilated pinion, a gear wheel periodically engaged by the teeth on one pinion to intermittently rotate the shutter to give one exposure for each revolution of the mutilated pinion, a swinging arm upon one end of which the take up spool is mounted a second mutilated pinion with which the other end periodically engages whereby the arm moves away from the exposure aperture of the shutter after an exposure has been made to draw away from the aperture the exposedlength of iilm and replace itby an unexposed length, mechanism forwinding up the length of -iilm so drawn away and for returning the take up spool to its original position, a reex mirror pivotally mounted within the camera, a third mutilated pinion of approximately semi-circular shape a gear wheel 'operating the reiiex mirror and engaging periodically with the third mutilated pinion to raise and a catch to stop the rotation of the mutilated pinions after one revolution.

ROBERT EDWARD CAMPBELL. 

